Foundation funds help Human Services reprogram eligibility
system

September 20, 2004

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Human Services
is receiving financial support from the Dakota Medical Foundation to
reprogram a computer system to handle applications for two children's
health coverage programs. The foundation is donating $92,000 in order
to attract over $350,000 federal dollars to finance a technology initiative
that will simplify the way applications are handled for Medicaid and
the Healthy Steps state children's health insurance program. Both programs
serve low-income uninsured children.

Department of Human Services Executive Director Carol K. Olson said,
“Policymakers have urged us to simplify access to child health
coverage programs, and this unique public-private partnership has provided
us with vital resources to more effectively link uninsured children
with coverage.”

Explaining the foundation’s support, Dakota Medical Foundation
President Pat Traynor said, “This grant enables North Dakota to
leverage much needed federal funding for technology improvements that
will increase access to healthcare, and that complements our mission.
We have already partnered with human services to sustain the 1-877-KIDSNOW
child health information and referral line, and we are pleased to continue
working together to enhance the health of North Dakotans.”

The reprogramming project will be completed in the spring of 2005 at
a total cost of over $400,000. The foundation funding is providing the
required state matching funds.

North Dakota currently uses two computer systems to determine eligibility
for Medicaid and the children’s health insurance program. County
social service offices handle Medicaid applications using one system,
and the department handles children’s health insurance program
applications using another process. Applications are often faxed back
and forth to determine which coverage program is most appropriate for
a child.

When complete, the computer system will handle both applications. This
will expedite the application review process and thus coverage. It will
also generate automatic referrals to Blue Cross Blue Shield of North
Dakota’s Caring Program, if a child doesn’t qualify for
state coverage programs, and will produce better data to analyze eligibility
and enrollment trends.

The Dakota Medical Foundation’s mission is to increase health
and access to healthcare services. The foundation has provided over
$22 million in grants to numerous entities in the Fargo region since
1996.

Each month, the Department of Human Services provides Medicaid coverage
to about 27,000 low-income North Dakotans under age 21. About 2,500
other low-income children are enrolled in the Healthy Steps state children’s
health insurance program.